Beverly Burton (Ryan)

My Mom worked at Rohr during the war when she was sixteen years old.   I would bet quite a few of our mothers worked during the 40's.  My husband, George also worked at Rohr for 30 years, we moved to five different sites with Rohr.   It is sad how it has diminsihed in size over the years.

Beverly Burton (Ryan)

Oops, I forgot....I worked there for two years from 1986 through 1988, I remember Mahogony Row!  My husband was promoted to the Executive Paygrade, so I had to "retire" per their P&P.

John Moore

Johnny Moore--My ex-wife worked there from 1969-1970..  I was in the Marine Corps at the time, but after I got out I applied for a job at Rohr. They ( Human Resources) informed me that they would not hire me because I had a shot up knee.  I was a disabled Vet, just back from Viet Nam.  There was no Disablilities Act passed as yet.  But, I thought because most of the contracts that Rohr had  were government, that they would be more ameniable.  I guess this was the final straw for me and Chula Vista.  I move away never to return to Chula Vista to live!  I do come down to visit my folks old house when I go to Mexico (K38) to surf.  Yes, I still surf.  I surfed in the Surfing Senior Olympics last year in the 65+ catagory and earned a Silver Medal...I live in North County in Carlsbad, so I mostly surf every day.  I was successful in my professional career so maybe Rohr did me a favor by not hiring me.  Hope to see you all at our 50th Reunion in September.  It will be held at the San Diego Country Club.  It will be my first time there, as my family was too poor to belong or golf there. Ha!  It great to read everyones nostalgia and memories.  It has been years since I have thought about some of these things.

Thanks..

Michele Lynette Adney (Aldrich)

Greetings from Iowa!  A quick question about the 50th Reunion.  I checked this site but it only says "more info to follow".  I have heard that it might be a combined one with Hilltop/Chula Vista/Castle Park.  Does anyone know if this is true?  I have friends at all 3 schools so I was just wondering.

Michele Lynette Adney (Aldrich)

While I'm on here .... one more question!   I have read a lot about some of the different elementary schools but how many of you attended Rosebank?  I actually only attended 5th & 6th grade.  There were some good memories from those two years though.  I really need to dig out my pictures and see if I still have those from the two years I was there.  Of course, the area was very undeveloped at that time .... nothing like it is now.  I lived one block from the school on Corte Maria.  My Mom still lives in the same house.  I know Rosie O'Day & Gail Dillon went there.  So, are there any other Rosebankers out there?

Bruce Wilson

John MOORE:

Technically, I believe it is K38.5.

Lyle's parents had that trailer there and DC practically homesteaded the place. On one trip down there the swell was flat and someone started a huge fireworks battle. Poor Chalmers was sitting in his car and someone dropped a cherry bomb on him which exploded onto his bare stomach. It wasn't as bad as it looked and I suppose Dave ran into much worse later in life.

I encountered some guys out in IB a few years back and they told me that at one time there was a surf shop there. I want to see the photos of that.

What are you riding these days? Is there something called the Club Marena?

Bruce Wilson

Baja surf photos & video & News

http://im-3.msw.ms/photoLab/fullWidth/298198.jpg

http://www.surfshot.com/surf-news/stop-the-baja-k39-port-project-188568/

[The picture below came from a story] " originally published in The Surfer’s Journal Magazine last year, 2008. It elicited quite a bit of interest and response. What surprised us was that no one in responding challenged the idea that perhaps we were the first to surf the waters of Baja. We were sure that someone would lay claim to an earlier date than 1939, but it didn’t happen. Not yet, anyway. Of course, since I was fifteen at the time and am now eighty-five, just maybe there is no one still living from that era to step forward and stake a claim".

Empty lineup at K39. Ooli rocks. George Ronis (and some others I can't remember) is credited with removing the rock (with dynamite). I wonder if that's the true story.

Patricia Lee Leckman (Banner)

In answer to Michele's (Adney) question, Rosie, Gail Dillon, Tom Koruan, Mike McCreery, Mike Swift,  and I went to Rosebank. Probably more names should be added. I may have class photos.  Will add some if they surface in my search.

Bruce Wilson

This intrepid traveler ( Dave & Ronnie ) attended not only the Rosebank Elementary School but also graduated from the Hilltop High School (Chula Vista) in 1964.

Other Rose(mud)Bankers: Shayne Schuller and Larry Walton and Walter Hess and Joe Malinger and Marcia Stump and Gail Nisbet and Kay Ochi and Roger Jones and John Vredenburg and Diane Leoni and ...

and please remember, the first cut is not always the deepest

There is also some speculation that Tom Hall taught at Rosebank before going to Hilltop Elementary.

Gail Eileen Dillon (Boone)

More Rosebankers. . .I think we can add Vicki Hughes, Pat Sandecki, Mike McCreery and Stan Kromydas (deceased) to the list.  Mrs. Switzer was my 6th grade teacher and I remember her fondly.

Treasa Struble (Skiles)

Bruce Wilson

Bonita & Sunnyside.

 The first 3 names that pop into my head (after Michele of course) are Georgia Farrington, Mary Kelly and Carolyn Coombs. I'll stop there while I look for that photo of the Sunnyside school. Georgia's family lived in a house that belonged to the son of former President U.S. Grant.

"But it was at Sweetwater—now a section of Bonita—that the Grants enjoyed a second home. Their neighbor and friend, Dr. H.R. Arndt,²⁸ had a ranch in Sweetwater and often took them for a ride to the valley whenever he went out to supervise work on his place. Impressed with the location between Sweetwater Dam and Sunnyside Station—the Otay Railroad ran along the foot of the hill—Grant bought seven acres there on January 24, 1894, next to the W.W. Whitney ranch.²⁹

Grant, Jr. had a cottage built in Dutch Colonial style with a gambrel roof. The grounds were to be planted in various kinds of fruit trees. When the Grants stayed at the cottage, usually in the summer months, they hired a tutor for the children and conducted their own private school."

Courtesy of the San Diego Historical Society, the Bonita Store circa 1919.

Bruce Wilson

More photos close by (San Ysidro & Spring Valley)

Little Landers Colony and San Ysidro Post Office

Helix Post Office inside 1895, outside 1888

)

John Moore

Bruce:  I surf on longboards with the name of "Island Influence",  with a logo of "II".  He is an old guy who used to shape and surf with Phil Edwards (Oceanside).  I have attached a couple photos of me and the boards I use.  These shots were from Mex a few Kilometer south.  I too have a old surfboard from the 1967 era.  I acquired it when I returned from Viet Nam and was stationed at Camp Pendleton.  I stored it in my Mother's garage until about 10 years ago, in CV.  I had it restored and I have it in my entry way of my house.  I will send some pics of it later.  I think I have a quiver of  approximately 6 boards in the garage, of which I use three.  You are correct. It is 38.5K in Mex.  As a matter of fact, the video you posted are the condos we stay at.  I think we were there four or five times last year.  None this year.  We used to camp on that point for 50 cents a night back in the 60's. Well I was going to post pics, but I can't fingure how to do it can someone help me??

John Moore

Bruce Wilson

John MOORE

There is an button right next to the "Source" button on the screen where you post a message (at the top).. It is called "Image".

When you click the Image button a window opens up that allows you to "browse" onto your computer and select a photo (sorry only one at a time). Once you select the photo then you have to click the upload button. Once the photo gets uploaded then you have to click OK.

Baja

We always "got in" free because Dave Chalmers was such good friends with the guy who had the little house there at K38.5. I wish I could remember his name, but I can't. The other story I remember, which occurred after I had moved up North, was when the Federales showed up on the bluff and fired (automatic weapons?) over the heads of all the guys in the water and ordered them in to the beach for  a weed check.

The last board I rode was an Animal Tracks by a guy up in Malibu. I can't even find a picture of one now. That must have been around 1978 or so.

Bruce Wilson

More Surf stuff (SORTA):

Dave "DC" Chalmers graduated one year ahead of us and I count him as a good friend. Even though I had made quite of mess of the passenger door side of his woody one drunken night, he still took me home, propped me up against the front door, rang the doorbell and ran. Can't ask for more than that. My head sure did hurt the next morning.

DC became quite famous with his surfing dog Max and made many appearances in popular media.

He won a court decision allowing him to traverse Coronado Beach with Max in order to gain access to the surf even though dogs were banned from the beach.

DC's board is on display at the Imperial Beach surfboard museum

“SOUTHCOAST SURFBOARDS”

Tom Warner began manufacturing surfboards in his dual garages located at 129 Carnation Avenue. CIRCA 1964.This example was shaped by Geoffrey Logan for Tim Cousins. Tim did not like the surfboard so he sold it to David Chalmers, A.K.A. “D.C.” “D.C.” and his little dog Max surfed this board for 30 years plus.

Donors: Mr. & Mrs. Chalmers

It's too bad Dave is not here with us to see it, having passed away from melanoma. Strange thing, I remember the exact last time I saw him. We were both running the Heart of San Diego Marathon in October 1978 over the bridge.

George Bracey Gillow

SURFING BACK TO ROHR

I have have a question for Beverly:  Is your husband, George, related to Claude T. Ryan, founder of Ryan Aeronautical?  Anyhow, I think it is interesting that you were a Ryan working for Rohr.  Fred Rohr was a Rohr working for Ryan when he was working on the Spirit of St. Louis in the 1920s.

Incidently, I never worked for Rohr and never applied to work there.  My interest in the company goes back to when we lived next door to Linda Keating's family on Del Mar Ave. and her father often loaned me the Rohr magazine.  Then, in the 1980s, I was friends with Bob Campbell and he told a number of Rohr stories including the political stuff of the mid 1950s and Rohr getting into the rail business such as the San Francisco BART and the WDC Metro.  Also their effort in housing with the Rohr Homes.

There is a very good website on Rohr memories that has stories from employees, scans of some of the Rohr magazines and newsletters, a good history and other information.  It is at: http://www.rohrmemories.com/

For those of you who have not been in Chula Vista for a while, Rohr was sold in 1997 to BF Goodrich.  They still have a plant at the end of "H" Street.

Beverly Burton (Ryan)

Hey, George, no my husband is not related to T. Claude, but his dad was friends with him and worked with Mr. Ryan at Ryan on the Spirit of St. Louis.  So we had another Ryan working at Ryan!  The families lived near each other in Pt. Loma.  Rohr is now named United Technologies....sold again.   George hates seeing how the old Rohr Plant area is diminishing.  Times change thoughn don't they.   The magazines are great.  Thanks for all the information you and Bruce are collecting.

Patricia Lee Leckman (Banner)

Anyone remember when Rohr administrators  felt that the "powers that be" did not realize how important Rohr was to the Chula Vista area and paid everyone in silver dollars?  Am I remembering that correctly?

George Bracey Gillow

According to Steven Schoenherr in his book Chula Vista Centennial, the silver dollars were paid on December 10th, 1954.  Twelve tons of silver dollars were delivered to Rohr from the Mint in San Francisco.

The controversy started when a City Master Street Plan showed that 5th Avenue would be turned into a major highway.   This resulted in three Councilmen being recalled and Rohr being blamed for influencing decisions in the City.  So that is when Rohr decided to pay in silver dollars. 

Susan L. Frise

Boy do I remember Ryan Aeronautics.  My Dad worked as a timekeeper there on the night shift from 1952-54 and somewhere in there they had the 25th anniversary of the building of the Spirit of St. Louis, or was it Ryan's 25th anniversary?  I remember going to the event as a 61/2 year old and getting all sorts of junk.  One old commemorative ashtray my 92 year old Mom probably still has.  We lived closeby on Pt. Loma and Mom rode the bus daily out to San Diego State--Dad provided no babysitting except for my afternoon kindergarten sister, Margaret, (Hilltop, class of '66), who got a ride to school from him; my other sis and I went to Azure Vista Daycare and I climbed Hill Street up to Sunset View Elementary twice daily, mornings & after a potato soup and toast with 'real butter' lunch (they had that so much it must have been subsidized food). I still love potato soup and toast with butter (except I eat the latter rarely nowadays).

Susan L. Frise

Surf stuff, also:  Robby Bartlett, class of '63 (I think), was a grade ahead of us and played Robby August in the classic surf movie "Endless Summer".  He was a friend of my second husband, Johnny McManus's.  Johnny's gone now.  Johnny was a victim of our drug world that happened out of the hippie world, for some.  When I was at Hilltop, I became obsessed with surfing in my Junior year (I was 15-16 then), but recall only sneaking a beer or a cigarette--no rampant drug use in San Diego that year for me.  That summer I ran away with two other Hilltop students, (no names).  We headed to Mexico and, of course, were brought back by the nominal reward posted for us.  I then went to live with my Aunt in Monterey, CA and, although I saw them surfing in Santa Cruz, I had no board and so went to body surfing.  My older daughter lives in Oceanside and has had that surfing lust since she was a teen--one big influence she got from me.  She remembers Robby coming over often and has watched "Endless Summer" a million times.  I can see her surfing on into her Golden Years.  She never got into drugs in the surf world but says they are rampant nowadays.

Bruce Wilson

Susan:

Robbie Bartlett and I spent tons of time hanging out and skirting the edges of danger together. I had never heard that Endless Summer story, but it's an interesting notion and maybe something even that Robbie made up. Robert August and Mike Hynson actually played themselves in the movie.

However, Robbie and Lyle Hitchcock did make a surf film, Island Magic. I have a copy and I think there is a cameo of Robbie in that film.

Drugs were indeed the downfall of many folks from Chula Vista and the South Bay-Coronado, not to mention OB and La Jolla - a lot more than I want to remember.

Here's a clip from John (Lyle) Hitchcock's 1972 film featuring famous surfer Jerry Lopez and music by another local boy made good Carlos Santana (Tijuana).

.

Bruce Wilson

Regarding Rohr "paychecks", it is rumoured that is how the Silver Dollar got it's name .

Today, an enterprising mayor would recommend tearing out all the old parking meters and replacing them with ones that accepted the one dollar coins. Something about not needing a weatherman.

John Moore

Bruce:  Okay I am attaching some photos of my 60's board and some of me surfing in the last couple of years.  I lived one block from Robbie Bartlett and Lyle Hitchcock across the street on Second Ave. when I was young.  Lyle was a good surfer but I never saw Robbie inthe water.  I know he was not in the "Endless Summer".  I saw it in 1964 at Hoover high school, went with Jimmy Hitchcock and Malcom Nicolson.  Robert August played Robert August. You are right, drugs played a big role in the 66-70's era, with many of our friends succumbing to the dark side of that life style.  I still surf 38.5K.  About 3-4 times a year.  We do stay in the condo's on the point.  We have a friend that the General Manager of the place.  I too remember the old guy who owned that house with his six kids.  His oldest son got drunk once and was shooting his 22 cal. at us.  Lucky he was a bad shot.  I surf up and down the coast and we go to Hawaii at least once a year.  I surfed in the Senior Olympics for surfing and earned a Bronze medal in 60+ 4 years ago and a Silver medal in 65+ two years ago.  I regularly surf with Jerry Olivas, short boarder, and Gary Kennedy, lives up north in Sebatapol, comes down to surf a few times a year.  I have been a member of the Oceanside Longboarders Surfing Clulb for about 26 years.  We surf in many contests up and down the coast.  I raised all three of my sons in the surfing culture.. I surf with my two oldest about 2-3 time a week. My two oldest surf competively in the Stand-up surfing world. My youngest used to longboard in the semi-pro arena.  But they all got their college degrees and are very successful in their own right.  I am on the 50th Reunion committee. But Bev Burton, Rosie O'Day are and have been doing most of the work.  They have been instrumental in organizing most all of our reunions.  Everyone needs to give them a big round of applause.